Proandricus hlatikulu, Plisko, 2002

Plisko, Jadwiga Danuta, 2002, Nine new earthworm species of Proandricus Plisko, 1992 from South Africa and Lesotho (Oligochaeta: Microchaetidae), African Invertebrates 43, pp. 183-204 : 188-190

Proandricus hlatikulu sp. n.

( Fig. 3 )

Etymology: Named after the type locality, Hlatikulu Forest.

Material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: Holotype: NMSA /Olig.03195 clitellate, Hlatikulu Forest (27º19'25"S: 31º59'42"E) under leaf-litter, 13 April 2000, R. Scott-Shaw leg.

Description based on holotype.

External characters:

General: Body cylindrical. Colour: Alcohol-preserved yellowish-grey. Dimensions: Preserved and slightly contracted 130 mm long, 6 mm wide at segment 10, 9 mm at tubercula pubertatis. Segment number: 199. Prostomium: Prolobous. Segmentation: Secondary annulation present on preclitellar segments; 1 and 2 short, with irregular longitudinal grooves; 3 simple, longer than 1 or 2; 4–8 with 2 simple ringlets, similar in size and appearance; 9 with 2 ringlets, second shorter than first; 10,11 and postclitellar segments simple, randomly annulated. Setae: Small, closely paired; postclitellarly aa> bc, ab = cd. Nephridial pores: Conspicuous in cd setal lines; first pair in intersegmental furrow 3/4. Female pores: Conspicuous, in intersegmental furrow 13/14, medially, between setae aa. Male pores: In front of tubercula pubertatis in intersegmental furrow 14/15. Spermathecal pores: Difficult to observe externally; during dissection observed in intersegmental furrows 11/12 and 12/13, dorsolaterally.

Clitellar region ( Fig. 3 ): Clitellum: Alcohol-preserved yellowish-white, well developed, segmented, on 12–22; clearly bordered anteriorly and evenly covering segments 12–21; ventral borders on segments 12–21 extend parallel with cd setal lines and dorsal rims of tubercula pubertatis; posteriorly covering only dorsal part of segment 22 and not extending to cd setae. Tubercula pubertatis: Trapezoidal, with shorter line medially, rimmed all around; dorsally bordering clitellum, ventrally extending to ab setae; anteriorly covering only posterior part of segment 15 and extending evenly onto 16–18; posteriorly covering only anterior part of segment 19; glandular and segmented in dorsal parts; in front of ventral rims not segmented, but with short longitudinal folds. Papillae: Not observed.

Internal characters:

Septa: 4/5 very much thickened, muscular; 5/6 and 6/7 very thin, although firm; 7/8 and 8/9 thickened moderately, strong, similar in appearance. Other septa thin. Gizzard: Short, muscular, in 7. Calciferous glands: Moderate in size, in 9; anteriorly slightly broader than posteriorly; widely separated dorsally, ventrally with narrow separation. Intestine: Commences in 13. Typhlosole: Commences abruptly in segment 20 as large U-shaped tube, extending in similar shape; terminates in segment 135. Dorsal blood vessel: In 5 simple, in 6 and 7 partly double, not separated; in 8 double, widely separated; in 9 double, enlarged, cordiform; in 10 and following segments simple, although slightly enlarged. Paired dorsoventral vessels: In 5–8 simple thin vessels, in 9–11 enlarged, moniliform. Nephridia: Meganephridia ; coiled loops with V-shaped, elongated caeca. Reproductive organs: Spermiductal funnels: Proandric arrangement (in segment 10); one pair of large funnels, enclosed in one sac, and closely connected with seminal vesicles. Vasa deferentia: Very thin single ducts running at each side of the body, deeply embedded in body wall; before entering male pores at intersegmental furrow 14/15 they penetrate glandular tissue, corresponding to male pores. Seminal vesicles: In segment 10; one pair of small sacs closely connected with sac confining spermiductal funnels; broader at their bases, at dorsal extensions becoming slightly narrower. Spermathecae: In segments 12 and 13, near to septa 11/12 and 12/13. Club-shaped, elongated or slightly curved ampullae; one pair per segment; posterior pair larger than anterior; in posterior spermathecae iridescence was observed, confirming presence of sperm. Ovaries: Not observed. Genital glands: Not observed.

Biological notes: Found in northern KwaZulu-Natal on summit of Lebombo mountain range, in forest litter. This little-explored, botanically interesting forest occurs on the top of the mountain, and contains a variety of indigenous trees and shrubs ( Pooley & Player 1995).

Discussion: Having three septa thickened and spermathecal pores in two intersegmental furrows 11/12 and 12/13, hlatikulu is assigned to the belli species-group. Similar to modestus and setosus in having anterior septum much thickened, but differs from both species in the shape and location of the clitellum and tubercula pubertatis. The location of female pores in intersegmental furrow 13/14, is not observed commonly in the genus, but it occurs also in beddardi , suggesting a relationship between these species. However, the location of the seminal vesicles, and the shape and position of the calciferous glands and clitellum, separate these species.

Figures

Fig. 3. Proandricus hlatikulu sp. n. Clitellar region, lateral view. [C = clitellum; T= tuberculum pubertatis.]